title: Electron probe microanalysis and transverse microradiography studies of artificial lesions in enamel and dentin: a comparative study.
abstract: In cardiology and research involving the interactions between restorative materials and dental hard tissues, it is important for small changes in tooth mineral content to be measurable. Currently, transverse microradiography (TMR) is the most accepted tool for the above purpose. Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) can yield both qualitative identification of elements and quantitative compositional information. The purpose of this study was to compare the mineral distribution in well-defined artificial lesions, in dentin and enamel, by the use of both TMR and EPMA on the same sample. The good correlation between the two sets of data validates EPMA as a technique and helps in the interpretation of its results. The data from TMR analysis are expressed as vol% of mineral, while EPMA gives the levels of Ca and phosphate in wt%. The conversion between the two sets of data is complicated by the fact that local density is, as yet, unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruben
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arends
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mount
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Faller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfarrer
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008852:Microradiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D002118:Calcium